Basketball is a competitive sport, presenting a high incidence of contact and movement injuries. OBJECTIVE: to determine the incidence of musculoskeletal injuries in elite female basketball athletes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 66 adult athletes, with ages ranging from 18 to 37 years (average: 23), from 5 teams playing A1-class São Paulo State Championship were prospectively assessed in the period of September 1999 - January 2000). Data concerning each individual athlete and the injuries occurred within that period were recorded by a physical therapist. RESULTS: 78 injuries were reported in 47 athletes (71.2%). The incidence of injuries was 2.6 injuries/athlete/ 1000 games/ training sections, with the highest incidence being noted during matches. Sprains were the most frequent diagnosis, accounting for 33%, particularly at the ankle region, followed by bruises (24%). The most frequently injured regions were knees, accounting for 21% of injuries, hands/ fingers (17%), leg/ thigh and ankle, accounting for 14% each. The physical contact with other athletes was the major mechanism of injury. We did not find a correlation between diagnosis, age, position and anatomical region injured, but younger athletes reported injuries less frequently. Most injuries were mild (88.5%), with the knee region showing the highest level of morbidity. The overload imposed by this kind of sport activity was more noticeable at lumbar and knee regions, requiring intensive prevention programs and follow-up of elite female basketball athletes.
Athletic injuries; Epidemiology; Basketball; Women
